Bridgeport

Connecticut’s Hub of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

A Business Resource Guide

r e e n
BG 20
20
 When your heart is failing,
how many Connecticut hospitals
provide the best chance for survival?

One.

That’s according to the U.S. Department of Health &

Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) for July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2008 as announced July
2009. Which means if you or someone you love is suffering
with congestive heart failure, you have the best chance of
survival at Bridgeport Hospital, home of the Heart Institute
and a nationally recognized provider of advanced cardiac Caring for Your Life
care. www.bridgeporthospital.org

For a referral to a cardiac specialist, call us toll free 24/7 at 1-888-357-2396

or visit www.bridgeporthospital.org/FindPhysician
 Looking Forward in the Park City
James Douglass

I love living and working in Bridgeport. Bridgeport

has a very diverse workforce, unparalleled transportation,
beautiful streets and parks - all this and more in
Fairfield County, Conn., accessible to the powerhouse
C o n t e n t s Northeastern market.
If you’re looking to start your business or jumpstart
4 Facts at a Glance its growth, then take a look at Bridgeport. Major manu-
6 Overview facturers, technology and health care companies have
10 Economic Development located here to take advantage of our many assets.
Resources Bridgeport - The Park City, is home to an abundance of attractions…
14 CEO Success Stories • Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
16 Economic Development • The Arena and Ballpark at Harbor Yard
Projects
• Barnum Museum and Discovery Museum
20 Lifestyles
• Two Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks
• And more than 16 institutions of higher education
within a 25-mile radius
Our largest employment sector, health care, boasts two of Connecticut’s
finest and most successful hospitals, Bridgeport Hospital part of the
Yale-New Haven Health System, and St. Vincent’s Medical Center part
City of Bridgeport, Connecticut
An Economic Resource Guide of Ascension Health.
Sponsored by:
Today Bridgeport is experiencing a “green revival” as a result of our
Bridgeport Office of
Planning & Economic Development BGreen 2020 Sustainability Initiative, a public/private partnership
Special thanks to aimed at lowering the City’s costs, reducing our carbon footprint,
Donald Eversley, Director
for editorial assistance & review cutting energy consumption and fostering transit-oriented development.
Partners include the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, DuPont, UT,
GE and many active citizens.
This comprehensive plan includes an Energy Improvement District to
create renewable energy and conservation programs, a Green Business
Produced and Published by incubator to create green collar jobs, and a renewed effort to clean our
American Images Publishing brownfields for parks, new businesses or housing. A new Master Plan
1-800-807-6555
www.americanimages.org
and revised Zoning Code which embody “Smart Growth” principles,
are encouraging new, progressive and denser development within our

n
Publisher David J. Wayman
compact, walk-able downtown on Bridgeport Harbor.

e
Project Manager Victor Kuehn

r e
Writer Betsy Scott After you learn about Bridgeport I am sure you will be impressed with

BG 20
Design & Production Janet Coyne our forward thinking green initiatives, our cultural, educational , health
care and transportation assets, and will want to consider the Park City
Cover photography:
as the place to start, expand or relocate your business.
Courtesy of Lacey Manufacturing
Courtesy of Bridgeport Bluefish

20
Courtesy of Bridgeport Hospital Sincerely,
Aerial photo by
Morgan Kaolin/AEROPIX: 203.375.3686 Bill Finch
© ­2010, American Images Publishing. All rights reserved.
Every precaution has been taken to assure the accuracy of the
Mayor
information included in this guide. However, due to the scope of the
project and the number of different sources consulted, neither the writer,
editor, publisher, sponsoring agency, or advertisers can be held liable
for damages arising out of errors or omissions.
Bridgeport, Connecticut 3
 F acts at a G l a n c e

Residents
Nearby Colleges
Total population 137,912
& Universities
Persons per square mile 9,056

James Douglass
Average family size 3.38 Albertus Magnus College,
Median age 33 New Haven
Fairfield University
Income Transportation Housatonic Community College
Bridgeport median 1,510,000 passenger & vehicle trips Katharine Gibbs College, Norwalk
household income $34,658 annually
Norwalk Community College
Road
Fairfield County median Paier College of Art, Hamden
household income $96,279 • Interstate 95
(fifth-richest county in the U.S.)
Quinnipiac College, Hamden
• State Routes 8, 25 & 15
(Merritt Parkway) Sacred Heart University,
Connecticut per capita income
Fairfield
$43,173 (richest state in the U.S.) Rail
Southern Connecticut
• 87 New Haven Line
MetroNorth Trains Daily State University, New Haven
Labor Force & Employment
• 12 Waterbury Branch St. Vincent’s College
• Employment Base MetroNorth Trains Daily University of Bridgeport
White-collar jobs 47% • 10 Amtrak Trains Daily University of Connecticut,
Blue-collar jobs 30% Ferry Stamford Branch
Service-sector jobs 23%
• Year-round service University of New Haven
• Labor Force
from downtown Bridgeport
Yale University
to Port Jefferson, Long Island
Bridgeport 62,877
Air
Fairfield County 470,167
• Sikorsky Airport - 75,000
landings & takeoffs annually
Land
Area 16 square miles Distance to Major Cities
Acres of parkland in miles
more than 1,367
Hartford 58

New York City, N.Y. 59

Homes

Total households 50,791 Providence, R.I. 121

Owner-occupied homes 43 % Philadelphia, Pa. 153

Boston, Mass. 157

Major Health Care Facilities
Washington, D.C. 286
• Bridgeport Hospital
• St. Vincent’s Medical Center

4 Bridgeport, Connecticut
 AL OF THE
SE CI

TY
OF
BRIDGEP
OR
T,
ON T C
NECTICU

AL O F TH E
SE CI

TY
OF
B R IDGEP

Connecticut’s Hub of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
From the very beginning,
Bridgeport has always been up to something new and exciting!
B ridgeport was the hometown of
one of the original innovators,
Phineas Taylor Barnum, or P.T., as
he is better known — the showman-
turned-mayor who helped make this
port city into a thriving center of
industry during the early 19 century.
th
The largest city in the state,
Bridgeport’s advantageous location
situated around an excellent harbor
on the Long Island Sound encouraged
early settlers to shift from agrarian to
mercantile and manufacturing pursuits.
It grew from a whaling center into an
industrial center after the opening of
the railroad in 1840. In the 19 century,
th
Bridgeport’s industries produced car-
riages, brass and cast-iron fittings,
sewing machines, tools, saddlery
and ammunition. Harvey Hubbell, a
Bridgeport inventor, patented the first
electric light socket with a pull chain
in 1896. This design is still in use!
By the 1930s, the community
had almost 500 manufacturing firms.
Its rich history of providing the rest
of the United States with needed
manufactured goods during the early
to mid-20 century and its wartime
th
manufacturing output earned the city
the nickname “Arsenal of Democracy”
during World War II. In the late
20 century, Bridgeport remained a
th
6 Bridgeport, Connecticut
o v e r v i e w
The Barnum Museum
manufacturing center, producing elec-
trical and transportation equipment,
plastics and machine tools.
As in many American cities,
Bridgeport has seen a decline in its
traditional manufacturing base. Yet
thousands remain employed in aero-
space, marine, medical devices and
contract manufacturing. The economy
has diversified in growth areas such
as the life sciences and education.
Today, Mayor Bill Finch’s vision
for moving Bridgeport forward involves
a commitment to making the city
the “cleanest, greenest, safest, most
affordable city, with schools and
neighborhoods that improve every year.”
To bring that about, the mayor
aims to reduce property taxes; im-
prove education through school choice,
motivational curriculums and other
innovations; expand economic devel-
opment; build more workforce housing;
revitalize neighborhoods; provide
more local jobs and small business
opportunities; protect the environment;
and access 21st century technology
and infrastructure, to highlight several
of his most important initiatives.
The Mayor has launched BGreen
2020, a comprehensive agenda to
dramatically reduce the City’s carbon
footprint by 2020, through conserva-
tion, alternative energy, more efficient
use of buildings, “green” purchasing,
job training, a green business incubator,
and other measures.
A number of major economic
development projects are providing the
well-positioned city with a new look,
to add to what it already has to offer:
enticing tax incentives and zones for
businesses; a great location amid
major east-west and north-south
highways; myriad mass transportation
choices; an affordable and wide range
of housing options; high-quality
workers; cultural attractions and rec-
reational opportunities; and abundant
James Douglass
waterfront access.
 n
BGre2e0
20

The downtown central business is under way, bringing hundreds of

district has been the recipient of
significant public-sector investment
during recent years, a result of the
city’s focus on creating amenities
and conveniences through intermodal
new and renovated units on line.
Most are “adaptive reuse” of formerly
commercial buildings including the
City Trust bank building, the Arcade
Hotel, Loft 881, 333 State Street and
Bijou Square.

Millions of dollars also have been

invested in improvements to and/or
expansions of both hospitals in town
and to an assisted-living center
for seniors.

transportation, entertainment and
cultural facilities, and a growing
middle-income residential base.
Fairfield County, within which
Bridgeport is located, is the fifth-richest
county in the United States. In fact,
the towns which compose Fairfield
County’s “Gold Coast” have a median
household income almost four times
higher than the national average.
Business owners are noticing the
city’s many appealing assets. Some
significant projects and investments
in recent years include the state’s new
$40 million Juvenile Court Complex;
the $17 million Bridgeport ITC Garage
Bridgeport also has seen tremen-
dous new industrial and commercial
development, including Dari-Farms,
the AKDO stone company, Derecktor
Shipyards, Columbia Elevators,
DRS Fermont, United Rentals and
the gourmet commercial bakery
Le Coq Cuisine.
Long Island Sound is a major draw
for fishermen and boaters as well.
Other attractions include the Ball-
park at Harbor Yard, home
of the Atlantic League
Bridgeport Bluefish pro-
fessional baseball team;
the Arena at Harbor Yard,
home of the American
Hockey League’s Sound
Tigers; the Beardsley
Zoo; Captain’s Cove
Seaport; the Discovery
Museum; Fairchild
Wheeler Golf Course,
a 36-hole public facility; and the
Greater Bridgeport Symphony and
its Youth Orchestra.
Bridgeport is, once again, in a
unique position among neighboring
Photo (far left) Courtesy of University of Bridgeport

(Intermodal Transportation Center),
a 1,500-car commuter parking facility
linking the various modes of transpor-
tation with downtown Bridgeport and
the region; and a $55 million expansion
doubling the size of Housatonic
Community College.
Nearly $100 million of investment
in downtown residential housing stock
8 Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport continues to be at
the forefront of national brownfield
reclamation efforts and is considered
to be a model municipal program for
the rest of the country.
Dubbed the “Park City,” the
community is home to more than
1,367 acres of parkland and 32 public
parks. The community’s proximity to
Northeastern urban centers to reach
new heights, thanks to a new Master
Plan approved in 2009 that fully em-
braces “smart growth” policies, a new
Code of Zoning Regulations geared to
implement the Plan, considerable in-
vestment of resources by government, and
the numerous individuals and entities
dedicated to moving the city forward.
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r e sourc e s

In Bridgeport, helping businesses succeed involves not

only the power of positive thinking, but also the power
of positive action.

A number of economic

development programs and

incentives are available to

businesses relocating to or

expanding in Bridgeport.

City and state economic

development agencies

provide financial incentives

to support private invest-

ment in Bridgeport.

Many of these incentives

Local Economic Development Agencies
are based on the Standard

Industry Classification (SIC) City of Bridgeport Bridgeport

Codes of the business,
the location of the property
and the type of investment
made. Available location
incentives include the
Office of Planning Regional Business Council
& Economic Development 10 Middle St.
999 Broad St. Bridgeport, CT 06604
Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 335-3800
(203) 576-7221 (203) 366-0105 fax
(203) 332-5611 fax www.brbc.org
www.bridgeportct.gov

Bridgeport Urban BRBC is a regional chamber of com-

Enterprise Zone, an Arts
and Entertainment District,
a Foreign Trade Zone,
and a federal HUBZone.
10 Bridgeport, Connecticut
The Bridgeport Office of Planning &
Economic Development’s mission is
to steer development to the city’s
strengths and maintain a mixed and
varied economy while augmenting
the vitality of existing neighborhoods.
It seeks to maximize existing devel-
opment resources, provide a nurturing
environment for local businesses,
offer the tools that encourage entre-
preneurs, and strive for a clean,
safe community with proactive,
pro-business government practices.
merce with 1,000 member companies
serving the Bridgeport region. The
council works to create a positive
environment for business expansion,
retention and recruitment.
Downtown Special Services
District (DSSD)
10 Middle St.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 335-3800
(203) 366-0105 fax
www.brbc.org
 The DSSD promotes the general City of Bridgeport – City of Bridgeport –
welfare of citizens and property Seven-year Graduated Deferral Tax Incentive Development
owners of the downtown through of Property Taxes Program
preservation, enhancement, protec- For commercial or residential projects Large real estate projects entailing
tion and development activities. within the Enterprise Zone that do not major capitol investment may be
qualify for the targeted investment eligible for negotiated property
community, there is a seven-year tax incentives.
graduated deferral of property tax
Tax Incentives/Incentive Zones on the increased value of the assess-
ment attributable to the improvement
project.
Enterprise Zone, Targeted
Investment Community, and Arts
& Entertainment Benefits
These three programs are designed
to help manufacturers, a select number
PERSONAL ATTENTION &
of companies within certain Standard
Industrial Code (SIC) classifications,
PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR
and certain entertainment uses to
locate within specific geographic
NEARLY 60 YEARS.
areas of the city. The entire City of
Bridgeport is a Targeted Investment
• Securities • Real Estate
Community. • Securities Arbitration • Land Use & Zoning
Benefits include: • Litigation • Corporate
• five-year, 80% abatement of
• Municipal • Bankruptcy
local property taxes on real and • Estate and • Financial
personal property Tax Planning & Restructuring
Administration
• 10-year, and 25% to 50% • Appellate
corporation business tax credit • Matrimonial & Family
• Employment & Labor
www.ct.gov/ecd/site/default.asp
• Elder Law & Long Term
Care Planning • Physicians Practices
HUBZONE Contracting Program • Common Interest • Personal Injury
This federal program provides con- Communities • Telecommunications
tracting preferences to businesses & Utilities
located within the HUBZone. Nineteen
census tracts make up Bridgeport’s
HUBZone. For more information, visit
https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/inter-
net/index.cfm

Foreign Trade Zone

Most foreign and domestic material 1115 Boad Street
or merchandise may be moved into P.O. Box 1821
a FTZ without being subject to U.S. Bridgeport, CT 06601
customs duties on that merchandise. 203-368-0211 tel
Bridgeport has FTZ 76, located in six 203-394-9901 fax
www.cohenandwolf.com
buildings and sites within the city of
Bridgeport. The entire Bridgeport FTZ
contains nearly 500 acres. B R I D G E P O RT • O R A N G E • W E S T P O RT • D A N B U RY
www.portofbridgeport.com
Bridgeport, Connecticut 11
 Statewide Economic
Financing
Development Resources

Department of Economic U.S. Small Business Administration, Grow America Fund

& Community Development Connecticut Office GAF provides SBA-guaranteed credit
Office of Business and Industry Programs and services to help to small businesses in partnership
Development businesses become established, with client communities throughout
505 Hudson St. grow and succeed. the country. It operates as a community
Hartford, CT 06106-7107 www.sba.gov/ct development bank to support the
(860) 270-8215 creation or expansion of eligible small
(860) 270-8055 fax Community Capital Fund businesses in under-served urban
www.ct.gov/ecd/ Facilitates the flow of capital and or rural areas, and of minority- or
expertise into housing and small women-owned business.
DECD develops strategies and pro- business loans. www.nationaldevelopmentcouncil.org
grams, including financing and tax www.commcap.org
incentives, to attract and retain Micro Credit
businesses and jobs, revitalize Community Economic Offers peer lending, individual loans
neighborhoods and communities, Development Fund and ongoing support.
ensure quality housing, and foster The goal of the CEDF is to revitalize www.mcbinc.org/services.php
appropriate development in Connecticut’s distressed neighborhoods

Connecticut’s cities and towns. by providing greater access to capital, Connecticut Community
technical assistance to small busi- Investment Corporation
CT Corporate Tax Credits nesses and support for community CTCIC provides small business owners
www.ct.gov/drs/ economic development. with access to capital through a wide
www.cedf.com variety of loan programs.
www.ctcic.org/

Connecticut Development
Authority
Tomorrow’s
Can provide direct loans, loan guarantees
Business Leaders
and loan participation. Programs are
are Made Here. Miguel Arroyo
Master of Business Administration
also available to finance the remediation
UBelong Here. and redevelopment of contaminated
commercial or industrial properties.
CDA may also finance or provide
equity-equivalent investments to
supplement capital needs of high-
technology or information technology
An MBA Program designed specifically for you. enterprises.
A master’s degree from the University of Bridgeport combines theory and practical learning www.ctcic.org/
with an international approach to business education. UB offers a variety of industry-specific
concentrations that today’s employers value and need. UB’s evening and weekend options
accommodate your busy lifestyle so you can move your career forward.

MBA Concentrations Technical Assistance Providers

Finance • Marketing • Accounting • Information Technology and Knowledge Management
International Business • Small Business and Entrepreneurship
General Business • Global Financial Services • Human Resources Management
Management • Operations Management • Specialized Business Greater Bridgeport
Discover your potential. To learn more, call 203-576-4551 or visit bridgeport.edu Connecticut SCORE (Service
Corps of Retired Executives)
www.scorect.org

B R I D G E P O R T • S T A M F O R D • W A T E R B U R Y CT Licensing Center
www.ct-clic.com

12 Bridgeport, Connecticut
UBRIRE342BRBL_Ad_Rev3.22.indd 1 3/22/10 2:09 PM
CT Dept. of Revenue
Services – Getting
Started in Business &
Corporate Tax Credits
www.ct.gov/drs/

Connecticut
Procurement
Technical Assistance
Program (PTAP)
www.ctptap.org

CT Minority Supplier
Development Council
www.cmsdc.org

CT Women’s
Business
Development Center
www.ctwbdc.org

CT Small Business Development City leaders are working to attract businesses of all sizes
Center and encourage existing businesses to expand.
www.ccsu.edu/sbdc

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

ESTABLISHED 1971

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT

PHONE – (203) 366-3761

www.kuchmacorporation.com

Bridgeport, Connecticut 13

In survey after survey, businesses indicate that one of the most important
elements impacting their decision to relocate to any given community
is what local CEOs think and say about that community.
The city of Bridgeport can make a strong case for itself in that regard.
Please see what some of our local CEOs have found in Bridgeport.
Alloy Engineering Co., Inc.
A manufacturer of thermowells and
fittings for the process industries,
Alloy Engineering has been a
fixture of the Bridgeport manu-
facturing community since 1958.
The company has been active in
the Bridgeport Regional Business
Council, the Metal Manufacturers
Education and Training Alliance,
the Greater Bridgeport Community
Enterprise, on Housatonic Community
College’s Regional Advisory Council,
and with the City of Bridgeport on a
variety of programs related to planning,
zoning and economic development.
“Bridgeport has supplied Alloy with
a workforce that has been with us
for more than 20 years. Housatonic
Community College provides
continuous educational improvements
for our staff at all levels.”
Kris Lorch, CEO
www.thermowells.com
14 Bridgeport, Connecticut
C E O
S u cce s s S t o rie s
Columbia Elevators Co.,
Inc.
Lacey Manufacturing In 2010, Columbia
Elevators relo-
A contract manufacturer of products
cated its corporate
and components for the medical
headquarters
device industry, Lacey offers product
and elevator cab
design, metal stamping, injection
manufacturing
molding, assembly and packaging.
operation from
With just under 300 employees,
Port Chester, N.Y.
Lacey is one of the largest manu-
to Bridgeport.
facturers in Bridgeport.
The company has moved into a
70,000-square-foot building and is
undertaking extensive renovations
and environmental remediation
with state financial assistance.
The new facility will allow the company
to expand from 60 to 100 employees.
“Our company was attracted to
“After nearly 90 years here, we’re still
Bridgeport for the available in-
going strong! Our location provides
dustrial properties, local business
a great resource for qualified labor
incentives and a great pool of
for the precision operations we per-
manufacturing workers. The city
form. Through working with various
is central to our core business,
business organizations and local
60 percent of which is within
government, we have been able to
500 miles of Manhattan.”
stay and grow in Bridgeport. We
are proud of our accomplishments, L.J. Blaiotta Jr., President
both as a company and as a con- www.columbia-elevator.com
tributor to the community and the
local economy.”
Kenneth Lisk, CEO
www.laceymfg.com
Incubators, Flexspace & Industrial Parks
Barnum Avenue Business Park
1450 Barnum Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06610
(203) 366-4757
(203) 335-3728 fax
jcohen@northeastbuilders.com or
jhausman@colonialrealty.net
This newly expanded commercial/
industrial park has approximately
100,000 square feet of space. Two
additional buildable sites will provide
16,000 and 20,000 square feet,
respectively. Quick delivery of custom
configurations are available as
foundations, slab and underground
infrastructure are in place.
Bridgeport Commerce Park
1069 Connecticut Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06607
(914) 751-4000
jfriedland@westrockdevelopment.com
trailer parking, fiber-optic Internet
access, loading docks, freight elevators,
a conference facility, copying equipment,
and a tenant mail delivery center.
Bridgeport Trade
& Technology Center
480 Barnum Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06608
(203) 579-0551
(203) 331-1563 fax
www.mybttc.com
This complex of six, five-story inter-
connected buildings (formerly the
Singer Sewing Machine company)
provides 550,000 square feet and can
accommodate heavy floor loads and
open floor plans. Each building has
a freight elevator and loading docks
and the entire complex is wired with
fiber optics. Secure parking is included
for tenants. Uses include light industrial,
warehousing, educational and office.
Northeast Industrial Park/
Brilco Business Center
1450 -1558 Barnum Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06610
Contact: Joel Hausman
(203) 367-4087
jhausman@colonialrealty.net
This is a 14-acre, multi-use, 200,000-
square-foot complex that houses light
industrial, office, medical and retail
operations, with on-site management.
Featured in the multiple-building
development are new industrial
condominiums for sale or lease,
including various sizes from 2,400
square feet to 27,000 square feet
with up to 28-foot ceiling heights,
heavy power and abundant parking.

BCP offers more than 230,000 square

feet of space in a newly renovated
commercial/industrial campus. The
space includes a variety of one-story
units ranging from 2,500 to 40,000
square feet, with multiple drive-
in doors, high ceilings and loading
docks, and the American Fabrics Arts
Complex, a four-story building with
INDUSTRIAL SPACE AVAILABLE
Bridgeport Commerce Park - 1069 Connecticut Ave
loft-style workspaces for entrepre-
neurs, artists and artisans. Units from 2,500 S.F. - 40,000 S.F.
Excellent loading docks and drive-ins
New, energy efficient heating & lighting
Bridgeport Innovation Center

955 Connecticut Ave., Suite 5103

RETAIL SPACE AVAILABLE
2115 Boston Ave
Bridgeport, CT 06607
(203) 333-9000 High traffic area
(203) 333-9008 fax Dense population
www.bridgeportinnovationcenter.com

This multi-use, 200,000+ square-foot

Contact:
complex features multiple mill-style Jason Friedland (914) 751-9802
buildings and on-site management, JFriedland@WestrockDevelopment.com
with 24-hour security and access,
covered loading areas, overhead bays,
Bridgeport, Connecticut 15
 e co n omic
d e v e l opm e n t
P ro j e cts

Bridgeport’s potential for positive economic development is huge.

There are several mega-projects that will reshape Bridgeport’s skyline,
making the “Park City” the showplace of the entire East Coast.
At the same time, city leaders are working to attract small and mid-sized
businesses, upgrade the city’s housing stock and encourage existing
businesses to expand.

Downtown Bridgeport The city also has a new $17 million

Development
The State of Connecticut’s new
$40 million Juvenile Court Complex
will integrate the family and juvenile
courts into an attractive, centralized
facility that is anticipated to stimulate
new private investment in the area.
Bridgeport ITC Garage (Intermodal
Transportation Center). This 900-car
commuter parking facility helps link
the various modes of transportation
with downtown Bridgeport and the
region. Additional funding was secured
to add two more parking decks and
about 500 spaces to the garage. The
construction of an enclosed, elevated
pedestrian walkway system connecting
the ITC Garage to the Metro-North rail

The Arcade Mall

platform was completed in May 2008.
1001 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT. 06604
A new state-of-the-art, 17-bay bus
terminal operated by the Greater
Bridgeport Transit Agency opened
in 2007.

Housatonic Community College

underwent a $55 million expansion,

Housatonic Community College

DESIGN PRESERVATION RESTORATION URBAN PLANNING

CUTSOGEORGE TOOMAN & ALLEN ARCHITECTS, P.C.

151 West 26th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10001-6810
P:212.243.7404 F:212.243.7480 www.cta-architects-nyc.com

16 Bridgeport, Connecticut

doubling the size of the downtown
facility. The renovation is a direct
response to more than $40 million of
other private investment occurring
within a block’s distance of the campus.
The Bridgeport Holiday Inn
completed a $10 million renovation in
2009, which included an upgrade of
all 209 rooms and the launch of the
new Blue Martini bar/lounge.
Urban Green Builders completed a
$30 million, adaptive reuse project in
the former City Trust bank building
in 2008, adding 118 units of fully-
occupied rental housing, a Citibank
branch, Amici Miei Café and several
more retail spaces. Urban Green also
completed a $22 million restoration of
the Arcade Hotel, another mixed-
use downtown project anchored by a
unique and historic retail atrium core.
The Lofts 881 project converted
an obsolete and vacant medical office
building to 38 residential condominiums
and two retail spaces, undertaken at
a cost of approximately $7 million.
occupied within the development.
Architecture firm Antinozzi Associates
relocated from a neighboring city
and converted the theater building’s
turn-of-the-century ballroom into a
stunning, two-level, 11,500-square-
foot workspace. Two Boots Pizzeria, a
New York-based operator of upscale
pizza shops, opened their first restaurant
outside of New York City in Bijou
Square and added a stage that hosts
live entertainment most nights of
the week. Other tenants include
engineers x scientists
Make a positive impact on
the quality of life for
your community
Café Roma, a gourmet Italian restau-
rant; Epernay Café, a French-style
bistro; and Café Las Vetas, an upscale
coffee shop/performance space.
New construction is also a part of
the project. A 150,000-square-foot,
mixed-use building is expected to be
completed in 2010. The $25 million
project will create 84 residential units
and nearly 10,000 square feet of
ground-floor retail space.
Kolmar Group, a multinational
energy trading company, relocated
from another city to a downtown
Bridgeport office in 2007, occupying
about 8,000 square feet at 10 Middle
St. It offers another indication of
Bridgeport’s increasing desirability as
a location for small- to medium-sized
growing companies.
x planners

The Bijou Square Redevelopment

Project consists of the renovation of
four historic buildings along Fairfield
Avenue in downtown Bridgeport. One ƒ Environmental Health & Safety ƒ Development Services
ƒ Facilities Engineering ƒ Environmental Due Diligence
of the properties houses the oldest
ƒ Water & Wastewater ƒ Design/Build Services
movie theatre in the nation. The de- ƒ Water Resources & Solid Waste ƒ Information Technologies
veloper is the Kuchma Corporation, ƒ Assessment & Remediation ƒ Manufacturing Solutions
a local building-contracting firm, ƒ Transportation & Structures ƒ Asbestos/Mold/Lead Services
which has partnered with several
For more information contact Andrew Zlotnick, Vice President
local investors. More than 10,000
Connecticut • Massachusetts • Rhode Island • New York • South Carolina
square feet of restaurant, retail and
www.fando.com (203) 374-3748
office space has been renovated and
Bridgeport, Connecticut 17
 Industrial Development
& Energy Projects

The City of Bridgeport has seen significant new industrial and

commercial investment in recent years. Examples include:

Carr’s Ice Cream, a new $1.4 constructed 55,000 square feet of

million cold storage warehouse on
part of a remediated brownfield site.
Dari-Farms acquired Carr’s in 2007
and plans to double its building footprint.
A-1 Truck Accessories
completed construction
of its new
17,000-square-foot,
$1.6 million facility
on Howard Avenue in
2008. The high bay
assembly facility
houses two
small businesses.
AKDO Intertrade,
a major importer and
distributor of high-end
stone products, has
moved into a new $8.5 million,
115,000-square-foot showroom, office
and warehouse in the city’s West End.
Lecoq Cuisine Corporation
relocated from Stamford in 2005,
rehabilitating and expanding a previ-
ously abandoned industrial building in
the city’s East End. Growing rapidly,
the company occupies approximately
60,000 square feet and plans to
further expand.
United Rentals, the largest
equipment rental company in the
world, relocated from an adjacent city
and completed a 40,000-square-foot
new construction facility in 2009. The
project was developed on a former
brownfield site that had been idle
since 1980. It is now the company’s
largest facility in New England.
modern manufacturing space in the
Seaview Industrial Park.
Derecktor Shipyards is a
shipbuilding and repair facility that
expanded into Bridgeport from
Mamaroneck, N.Y.,
and occupies 23 acres
of deep-water harbor
property in the eastern
end of the city. The new
shipyard has created
nearly 400 new jobs and
is known for its innovative
work on both commercial
and recreational vessels,
including the creation of
Cakewalk, the world’s
largest private yacht.
The Bridgeport Energy Peaking
Station is a new $200 million, natural
gas-fired electrical generating plant.
Additionally, the Singer Electric
Substation and Middletown to Norwalk
345KV Power Line projects represent
investments of more than $100 million
in the city of Bridgeport. In 2010,
work began on a proposal to bring to
Bridgeport a high-voltage, sub-sea
cable from Canada via Lake Champlain,
the Hudson River and the Long Island
Sound, delivering “clean” wind and
hydropower. Together, these projects
will assure that Bridgeport and
Fairfield County have the energy
infrastructure to support robust
economic growth long into the future.

All-Phase Construction, a steel

and iron building component fabricator,

18 Bridgeport, Connecticut
 Medical Sector
& Senior Living Projects

As the center for hospital

care in Eastern Fairfield County,
Bridgeport’s health care industry
continues to grow, invest in state-
of-the art facilities and generate Neighborhood & Residential Projects
quality jobs.
In recent years, more than $50 million of residential
For example, Bridgeport Hospital,
development projects were in various stages of construction
an employer of 2,600 people, has
in the City of Bridgeport.
announced plans to invest $70 million
in capital improvements to its The potential buying power of 48-acre site just across the Pequonnock
800,000-square-foot complex. these new households continued to River from downtown. To be constructed
fuel a strong interest on the part of in sequential phases, the plan has a
retailers in Bridgeport’s neighborhoods, full build-out potential of 2.8 million
including retail chains. Walgreens, square feet, including 800,000 square
Courtesy of St. Vincent’s Medical Center

Auto Zone, Stop & Shop, Price Rite,
Wendy’s, Fairfield County Savings
Bank, Citibank, Bogopa Food Bazaar,
Food Basics, and Webster Bank all
have opened new operations in the City.
Steelpointe Harbor is a major
mixed-use development planned for a
feet of retail, 200,000 square feet of
commercial/office, 300,000 square
feet of hotel/conference space,
a 250-slip marina with super-yacht
capacity, and 1,000 to 1,500 residential
units. City Council confirmed the plan
in September 2009 and early stages
will begin in 2010.

St. Vincent’s Medical Center,

which employs more than 2,000,
completed construction in 2009 on a
$145 million expansion project. It is
Cut Costs…
the most significant building project Not Corners on
in the hospital’s 106-year history.

The Watermark at 3030 Park,

a senior living and assisted-living
center, is currently undergoing a
$40 million expansion and reha-
bilitation project and has announced
plans to invest $70 million in capital
improvements to its 800,000-square-
foot complex.
• Site Evaluations disaster. A well thought-out plan is the first step
• Land Use Studies
• Site Plan Applications
• Stormwater Management
• Inland-Wetlands Applications
• Topographical Surveys
• Property / Boundary Surveys
• As-Built Surveys
• Construction Stake-Out
• Subdivision Mapping
• Flood Elevation Certificates
• ALTA / ACSM Surveys
• ADA Site Compliance
• Flood Control Studies
• Roadway Design
Your Next Project.
In today’s complicated regulatory environment,
failure to prepare and plan properly could spell
to achieving a project’s success. With more than
30 years of experience, Cabezas-DeAngelis works
closely with their clients from the conceptual plan-
ning stage through final design and construction.
Whether a single-lot improvement location survey
or a large, mixed-use site development, Cabezas-
DeAngelis is committed to providing the highest
level of personal service, technical accuracy and
quality workmanship in everything they do.
1450 Barnum avenue • suite 201
bridgeport, ct 06610
203.330.8700 • www.cd-engineers.com

Bridgeport, Connecticut 19
 Lif e sty l e s

If work and play can happily coexist, it is in Bridgeport.

The city offers a wide range of pastimes, from strolling
in one of its beautifully designed public parks to visiting
big-time entertainment venues or one-of-a-kind
historical attractions.
And there are plenty of

Courtesy Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

college and professional
sports and arts and

n
cultural offerings

r e e
to suit a multitude

B G
of tastes.

0 2 0 2
Parks & Recreation

Bridgeport is known as the “Park

City” because of its profusion of public
parks, offering ball fields, picnicking,
hiking and water fun. Seaside Park

1
and Beardsley Park were designed by
Frederick Law Olmsted, the “father”
of American landscape architecture,
who also planned Central Park in New
York City. The 370-acre Seaside Park

# features swimming, boating, fishing

and one of the longest salt-water
beaches in the state.

Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course

is a city-owned facility with two 18-hole

Best in CT for
Cardiac Surgery
courses, The Red and The Black
Recipient of the cardiac
 surgery excellence award—
three years in a row
course. The terrain ranges from flat
to hilly with creeks flowing throughout

 Ranked among the top 10%

in the nation for cardiac
surgery—three years in a row
the entire layout, which makes play
challenging and scenic. There are
three practice greens, a 24-stall driving
 Five-star rated for
cardiac surgery—three years
in a row range, and a bunker/chipping area.

 Five–star rated for

coronary bypass surgery—
four years in a row
Ranked Best (#1) in CT All told, the City of Bridgeport has more

for Cardiac Surgery than 1,367 acres of parkland, including:

 Five-star rated for

treatment of heart attack—
eight years in a row
GUIDING AMERICA TO BETTER HEALTHCARE®

For more information, visit • St. Mary’s By-The-Sea.........9 acres

• Glenwood Park....................9 acres
G U I D I N G A M E R I C A T O B E T T E R H E A LT H C A R E ®

www.stvincents.org or call
TrusT Your 1-877-255-SVHS for a physician referral.
HearT To • Beardsley Park & Zoo........36 acres
G U I D I N G A M E R I C A T O B E T T E R H E A LT H C A R E ®

sT. VincenT’s
Left to Right: Albert DiMeo, MD
HealthGrades is the leading independent ranking
source in the nation. All designations are for 2010.
• Rogers Elton Park..............73 acres
• Veteran’s Memorial Park...90 acres
G U I D I N G A M E R I C A T O B E T T E R H E A LT H C A R E ®
and Rafael Squitieri, MD

20 Bridgeport, Connecticut
G U I D I N G A M E R I C A T O B E T T E R H E A LT H C A R E ®

Sports & Entertainment
Ballpark and Arena at Harbor Yard
— Sports and entertainment take
center stage at Arena at Harbor Yard,
a masterfully designed facility where
Bridgeport residents can enjoy world-
class entertainment in their own
backyard. The complex is located at
Exit 27 on I-95 and on the Bridgeport
Harbor, easily reached on foot from
the bus terminal, train station and the
Port Jefferson Ferry. The Arena is spe-
cially designed to give every patron
in the 10,000-seat facility a good view
of its 140 annual events, including the
AHL Sound Tigers hockey, an affiliate
of the New York Islanders; Fairfield
University NCAA basketball teams;
and first-rate entertainment, such
as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Circus, Stars on Ice, WWE and
concerts for every age and musical
preference.
Bridgeport Bluefish —This Atlantic
League professional baseball team plays
at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The
team’s success has helped lead the way
forward for Bridgeport’s waterfront.
Captain’s Cove — Captain’s Cove
Seaport is one of Connecticut’s premier
tourist attractions, with a 400-seat
restaurant overlooking Black Rock
Harbor and a full-service marina.
Visitors also can check out the quaint
shops along the boardwalk and
enjoy a scenic harbor cruise. Nightly
entertainment, festivals and other special
events make Captain’s Cove a big draw.
with parades, concerts, parties, drum
History
corps and a fireworks extravaganza
at Seaside Park.
The Barnum Museum — The
Barnum Museum is dedicated to the life
Family Fun
and times of P.T. Barnum — founder of
Barnum & Bailey Circus (“The Greatest The Beardsley Zoo — Bridgeport
Show on Earth”) — and Bridgeport’s is home to Connecticut’s only zoo, a
industrial heritage. Built in 1893, 36-acre park devoted to the wildlife of
highlights include a North and South America.
miniature circus, clown Included is an indoor
costumes and personal rainforest exhibit plus a
mementos of Barnum, New England farmyard,
Tom Thumb and singer greenhouse, picnic grove,
Jenny Lind. The mu- the Peacock Cafe and gift
seum has a special wing, shop, as well as the former
designed by renowned Pleasure Beach carousel.
architect Richard Meier, The zoo is an accredited
that is dedicated to member of the American
temporary exhibits. Zoo and Aquarium Asso-
ciation and participates in
Barnum Festival
its Species Survival Plan.
— This unique festival
commemorating the circus entrepre-
neur annually, is billed as a “30-day-
long Fourth of July celebration”
A World Class
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Full Service Hotel & Conference Center
1070 Main Street, Bridgeport
I-95 Exit 27A to Exit 2 • Merritt Pkwy to Rte. 25/8 South to Exit 2
For reservations call 203-334-1234 or 1-800-HOLIDAY
or visit us online at hibridgeport.com
Bridgeport, Connecticut 21
City of Bridgeport Economic Resource Guide

Discovery
Museum — The
Discovery Museum
offers adventures
in art and science
with more than 100
hands-on exhibits.
The museum’s
contemporary art
galleries feature
works in all media by local, national
and internationally known artists. Sci-
ence exhibits involve electricity, light,
computers and special programs in
the Henry B. duPont III Planetarium.
There are also a variety of musical and
theatrical performances throughout
the year.
Wonderland of Ice — The Won-
derland of Ice is an indoor ice-skating
rink with public skating and lessons,
adjacent to Beardsley Park.
Housatonic Community College
is your first step in reaching your goals.
Housatonic’s degree, certificate and continuing education
programs can lead you to a well-paying career or to a
four-year university degree.
Save on tuition, transfer and save more.
Our advisors will show you how HCC’s
transfer agreements with University of
Connecticut, Connecticut’s State
Universities, Fairfield University,
Sacred Heart University, University of
Bridgeport and many other colleges
and universities allow you to get your
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Something for everyone.
HCC has a program for everyone
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to nursing and many continuing
education courses, too.
Take the first step... call
203-332-5100 credit programs 203-332-5057 non-credit and certifications
HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Your Pathway to Success
22 Bridgeport, Connecticut
Arts & Culture
Gathering of the Vibes —
An annual multi-day rock festival at
Bridgeport has a thriving local arts Seaside Park.
scene. Former industrial buildings provide
Greater Bridgeport Symphony
large bright spaces for an abundance
— The Symphony offers a five-concert
of fine artists, artisans, photographers
series at which audiences can expect
and performing artists. Among the
high artistic quality, rich and varied
leading elements of this community are
programs and an array of world-re-
the NEST Arts Factory, the American
nowned performers.
Fabrics Complex and the live/work
Read’s Artspace. Housatonic Museum of Art —
Housed at the Housatonic Community
City Lights Gallery — This gal-
College, the museum features a collec-
lery has evolved into not only a place
tion of nearly 4,000 works of art. The
for encountering the arts and culture,
focus of the collection is 20th-century
but also a venue for hosting events
modern and contemporary work.
for businesses and social celebrations.
Playhouse on the Green —
The Gallery at Black Rock’s mission
This 228-seat theater, called a “jewel
is to provide a place for greater Bridgeport
of a theatre” by the Connecticut Post,
area to experience, enjoy and purchase
is open year-round and offers music,
cutting-edge contemporary art.
theater and cultural events.
Downtown Cabaret Theatre
— The Cabaret offers professionally
performed Broadway hits and original
musicals.
Klein Memorial Auditorium —
The 1,400-seat theater, built in 1940,
has been the home of the Greater
Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra for
60 years and presents a wide range
of performing arts shows.
“Housatonic
Community
College made
Nearby
me realize my
potential.
As if all that isn’t enough…
I would
recommend Bridgeport is a stone’s throw from
HCC to New York City and all the art, culture,
anyone
who wants a major sports venues, nightclubs and
quality Broadway shows it has to offer. Sur-
education rounding Fairfield County boasts 30
that’s
affordable!” miles of beautiful coastline, rolling
Justin Signore
hills and picturesque New England
HCC 2005, Business countryside; it’s where the shore,
UCONN 2007, Finance
country and city come together to
create a multitude of living, dining,
shopping and recreational options in
Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich and
www.hcc.commnet.edu other neighboring communities.
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 PSEG Power is committed to Operational Excellence,
Environmental Sustainability … and Bridgeport.

The Bridgeport Harbor Generating Station is proud to contribute to the economic development

of Bridgeport and the region. As the largest fossil station in Connecticut and the third largest

in the New England Power Pool, it provides over 529 megawatts of power to the area. It’s one

of two PSEG Power generating stations in Connecticut. The city of Bridgeport has a unique

set of advantages found nowhere else in the nation. And its productive, highly educated

workforce helps us provide the power needed to keep the region growing. Overall, PSEG Power

has a fleet of nuclear and fossil fuel stations in eight states that provide more than 16,000

megawatts of electric generating capacity along with a reputation for operational excellence and

environmental responsibility. Bridgeport is an important part of what makes PSEG successful.